THE LEISURE CLASS
US, 2015, 86 minutes, Colour.
Ed Weeks, Tom Bell, Bridget Regan, Scottie Thompson, Bruce Davison, Brenda Strong.
Directed by Jason Mann.
The Leisure Class has interesting credentials, producers including Matt Damon and the Farrelly Bros, a Project Greenlight film.
The setting is Connecticut, a wealthy family estate of the Senator, Bruce Davison, celebrating the engagement of his daughter, Bridget Reagan, to William, a British financier, Ed Weeks. All seems to be going well on the surface, an elaborate affair with many high society and political visitors present.
Into the celebrations comes William’s brother, played very eccentrically by Tom Bell, who interrupts the occasion with his outlandish behaviour, the unmasking of William as a British conman, after the family’s money. The younger daughter of the family decides to play along with the intruder.
This is one of those films where a lot of truths are revealed by angry characters, the Senator, especially, revealed as a harsh man, down on his inherited finances, eager for a successful marriage. William gets involved in his fiancee’s reckless behaviour and drinking and tries to rescue her. This leads to many scenes of confrontation, bitterness, and, instead of a happy resolution, the daughter herself, influenced by her sister had been long alienated from the father, making a business arrangement marriage to thwart her father.
While some have billrd it as a comedy, it is not such a funny film but rather sardonic and satirical in its perspective on the business world, the world of the wealthy, the political world.
1. A small film, Project Greenlight experiment’s, HBO? The producers: an applicant for the Greenlight Project, Matt Damon, Farrelly Brothers?
2. The Connecticut settings, the mansion and grounds, the wealthy class? The political background and atmosphere? The opening party, the preparations for the wedding? Lavish costumes, decor? The musical score?
3. The credibility of the story on characters, the Langstons and their heritage, the pressure of the heritage, the railroads and wealth, positions in politics, the Senate? Langston having no son, the effect, his attitude towards his daughters, politically for his daughter? His anger, driving Allison away, on the surface, cultivating links, beneath the surface?
4. Fiona, nice, her decision about politics, daddy’s girl, meeting with Charles, engaged, the plans to marry, so quickly? At the party, socialising, the campaign issues?
5. Charles, from the UK, his alleged background, Eton and education? Pleasant, a trophy husband for the Langstons, his becoming involved, in love with Fiona, attitude towards her parents, his behaviour at the party?
6. The arrival of Leonard, the secret brother, his behaviour, reckless, childish, an alleged free spirit? Confronting Charles, the revelation that he was William? William wanting him to be Dean, school friend, the discussions, Leonard always taking over, with the family, the talk about the Charities? His clothes, manner, Caroline and her immediate infatuation? The discussions with William, the cash offer to go, accepting, changing his mind, staying? In the room, locked, the key, Caroline helping to him to get out, the drinks and the Langston safe, the raid, driving off to the party, his rousing up the guests, all in the pool?
7. Caroline, young, inexperienced, wanting to be sexy, infatuated with Dean? Dean and the later arrival of a prostitute, her place, remarks, Caroline’s response?
8. Allison, lawyer, being away, returning home for the wedding, her cold manner, the importance of documents, her wanting to investigate Charles? Going to the party? Observing? Fiona, the reaction, going to the party, trying to save her father’s reputation, not going into the pool, the challenge, her going you?
9. Charles, waking, the reaction of the butler, his acting like Fiona’s father, taking away from the party, his being shocked? The reckless driving, the crash, the ambulance, Langston coming, the cover-up, not wanting any scandals because of the politics?
10. The revelation of the truth, Ted and his drinking, making Leonard strip, whipping him? His long speech, about the heritage, despair? The negative reaction of his wife, his daughters?
11. Leonard deciding to go – and William wanting him to stay?
12. Fiona, discovering her hold over her father, William packing, his decision to go through with the wedding?
13. The wedding going on, all the surfaces and seeming respectability? What future?
14. American society, the role of the British, wealth, fraud, politics, cover-ups? And the touches of satire?
